This isn't just an app, it turns your Android device into a musical instrument like the Thummer (Thumtronics) or AXiS-64 (C-Thru Music). It works best on recent mid- to high-end devices with large accurate multitouch screens. Old or low-end devices tend to only support 2 simultaneous touches, and are very inaccurate.

On slow devices, especially with a single-core CPU, it's not responsive while it's loading and can take over 20 seconds to load all of the sound samples. Unfortunately, the Android sound system likes to hog the single processor core while it's doing this. I'm looking into what can best be done about this issue.

Thanks to David Randolph for releasing the source code for IsoKeys 0.76 and earlier under the GPLv3. It has been a great help for learning to develop for Android. This is the first app that I've released. (I'm now also learning the jammer!)

Note that ads and tracking have been removed in this release (too much of a learning curve). I intend to bring back the ads, but there will be a donation version without ads. F-Droid users will never see ads on this app (http://f-droid.org/ ).

Reviews

4.0

215 total

5 125

4 34

3 21

2 11

1 24

Adrian Silo

An interesting alternative keyboard layout Using Android devices sounds good for portable music playing, but is plagued by the lack of available buttons. A typical keyboard layout could work, but you miss out on some notes you can't fit on the screen. With an isomorphic keyboard like Hexiano, you can fit more on the screen. The alternative keyboard layouts are there, but a harmonic table is included for a more piano style layout. Overall, great keyboard layout that fits more in a small space that works very well.

Connor S

I hear it's great I don't think this app plays nice with marshmallow or something because it is unusable in its current state. Keys are completely unresponsive most of the time and work seemingly at random. Will update score when fixed.

Aviona

Sound cuts out seemingly at random when holding notes, and refuses to play around 5 times in a row every few notes. Worked perfectly before updating to Lollipop. How this still has such a high rating is beyond me as it's more or less no longer functional.

James Hofmann

Replaces my $500 AXIS-49 I purchased this style of MIDI controller in hardware back in 2010. The harmonic table was a huge revelation at the time and I spent many hours with it. However the build quality and chunky form factor of that device left it vulnerable to drops and I had to solder some new diodes. I put the device in storage because it was like having a priceless antique - too valuable to be sloppy with. Isokeys doesn't have velocity or key feel, but I can bring it anywhere, which is way more important!

A Google User

Harmonic table is great for touch If you want a piano instrument for touch, the harmonic table is the only way to utilize the space on the screen efficiently and intuitively. Aside from that, it could be improved upon by giving the sound a little release time and other effects (reverb, etc) that would make the sound more professional.

Tom Phillpotts

Change the way you think about the piano keyboard Fascinating to play. It's amazing how ingrained the image of the piano keyboard is in the mind of the player. It's like trying to learn a new language for someone used to the regular keyboard shape. Nice samples, great sound.

User reviews

Adrian Silo March 13, 2015

An interesting alternative keyboard layout Using Android devices sounds good for portable music playing, but is plagued by the lack of available buttons. A typical keyboard layout could work, but you miss out on some notes you can't fit on the screen. With an isomorphic keyboard like Hexiano, you can fit more on the screen. The alternative keyboard layouts are there, but a harmonic table is included for a more piano style layout. Overall, great keyboard layout that fits more in a small space that works very well.

I hear it's great I don't think this app plays nice with marshmallow or something because it is unusable in its current state. Keys are completely unresponsive most of the time and work seemingly at random. Will update score when fixed.

Sound cuts out seemingly at random when holding notes, and refuses to play around 5 times in a row every few notes. Worked perfectly before updating to Lollipop. How this still has such a high rating is beyond me as it's more or less no longer functional.

Replaces my $500 AXIS-49 I purchased this style of MIDI controller in hardware back in 2010. The harmonic table was a huge revelation at the time and I spent many hours with it. However the build quality and chunky form factor of that device left it vulnerable to drops and I had to solder some new diodes. I put the device in storage because it was like having a priceless antique - too valuable to be sloppy with. Isokeys doesn't have velocity or key feel, but I can bring it anywhere, which is way more important!

Harmonic table is great for touch If you want a piano instrument for touch, the harmonic table is the only way to utilize the space on the screen efficiently and intuitively. Aside from that, it could be improved upon by giving the sound a little release time and other effects (reverb, etc) that would make the sound more professional.

Change the way you think about the piano keyboard Fascinating to play. It's amazing how ingrained the image of the piano keyboard is in the mind of the player. It's like trying to learn a new language for someone used to the regular keyboard shape. Nice samples, great sound.

Very nice, please add MIDI support I noticed that this is open source, which is great. I wish had the bandwith to add that feature myself. Maybe you should make a paid or trialware version with this feature? Although the source code will still have to be released under GPL. No ads, please. If it's going to be donation-based, I'll be happy to donate.

A functional instrument A full fledged instrument for Android that allows harmonic passages to be played Pros: * low latency, makes it possible to play smooth runs and trills * size of keys adjustable, makes it useful for phones and tablets (very useful on tablets) * pleasant sounding voice * potential future support for midi (at least they'd like to, but it depends on whether these are actually created) Con's: * no voice selection * no effects (but that would actually interfere with either the speed or GUI or both so its OK)

Love it! More portable, more intuitive, higher range, lower maintenence, and less expensive than a real piano. All it needs is sensitivity to velocity and pressure (tilt to change volume) and it's perfect.